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Bail Bond Form
What Is a Bail Bond?
A Bail Bond is a legal instrument that lets a defendant stay away from jail until their court date comes provided that the court receives a financial guarantee that obliges the person to appear in person when the trial takes place. Signed by the Bail Bond agent, this document will confirm the court will be refunded if the defendant fails to appear in court on time - alternatively, the money paid by the defendant, their relative, or friend and deposited by the agent will be returned if the defendant assumes their responsibilities. In case the defendant ignores their court date, the company or individual that vouched for them and provided tangible financial assurances has every right to sue them to recover the money they lost to the court.
A Bail Bond template can be downloaded below. Customize it to your liking to suit the particulars of your agreement; however, at a minimum, this form must contain the address of the court in question, identify the parties (the surety and the defendant), indicate the total sum of the bail and the date of their trial, and confirm the court can use the sum of money deposited via the form if the court proceedings are concluded and the defendant does not appear. This document must be signed and dated by the Bail Bond surety. Note that Bail Bonds are notarized to certify the surety's willingness to vouch for the defendant - a notary acknowledgment has to be attached to the Bail Bond form.
How to Get a Bail Bond?
It is necessary to contact a professional Bail Bond agent to act as surety if the defendant and their family and friends are unable to post bail themselves. Find a local bond company (usually, a professional agency that deals with criminal and civil bonds on a daily basis) and negotiate the terms of the bond with them. Bail Bond agents will assess the details of the case before them, take the financial situation and the personal circumstances of the defendant into consideration, and issue an appropriate bond. Even if you do not have enough funds to handle the quick Bail Bond, the text of the bond may describe a Bail Bond collateral - this is an expensive item that can be used instead of or on top of the bail money to secure the temporary freedom of the arrested individual. You can offer real estate, jewelry, or other valuable assets to prove to the Bail Bond agent the defendant will appear in court - otherwise, your property may be seized and sold to cover the expenses of the Bail Bond agent.
How Much Does a Bail Bond Cost?
A Bail Bond surety will post bail on behalf of the defendant - even if they are in jail when the amount of bail is announced, they still can contact people they know to act on their behalf and obtain a Bail Bond. Typically, the Bail Bond agent will charge their clients a non-refundable fee of 10% per every bail. Some companies use a Bail Bond calculator to figure out the fee: for instance, if the bail is $3,000 and lower, you will have to pay 10% of the total amount, and if the bail is more than $3,000, the defendant or their representative will be asked to pay 8% fee.
How to Get Out of a Bail Bond Contract?
Once the defendant or their legal representative signs the deal with the Bail Bond agent, they are responsible for complying with the terms of the bond. Even if the defendant tried and failed to show up in court on time, it will not change the fact that the agreement remains legally binding. The only way to get rid of the Bail Bond obligations is to fulfill all the court responsibilities and act in accordance with the terms of the bond - then, the surety will cancel the contract and you will be free from your financial duties. Do not ignore your Bail Bond - often, sureties use the fee to hire a recovery agent who will locate the breaching party, seek out their close friends and family members, and then file a lawsuit to obtain the full amount of the money they lost.
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